workers in insecure jobs twice as likely to die from COVID, says TUC

By Pravin Jeyaraj

Many of the those on the frontline against Covid have been zero hour workers, such as care workers, supermarket workers and delivery drivers. While some of us were safely working from home or furloughed, insecure workers have been forced to put themselves at risk to keep society and the economy moving.

Their reward: insecure workers have been twice as likely to die from Covid as those in other professions, according to new research from the Trade Union Congress (TUC). 

By insecure workers, the TUC means those for whom hours are not guaranteed (including zero hour workers) and those on low-paid self-employment, earning less than the minimum wage. 

The death rate from Covid is particular stark amongst male insecure workers, at 51 per 100,000 people aged 20-64, compared to 24 per 100,000 people in less insecure occupations. However, even for female insecure workers, the mortality rate was 25 per 100,000 people, compared to 13 per 100,000 in less insecure occupations.

In addition to a greater likelihood of being on the frontline against Covid, the higher mortality rate amongst precarious workers has been driven by the reality that they are only paid if they work. No work, even if they are sick, means not being able to pay bills. Statutory sick pay is too low to to make up for the income lost from not working and many insecure workers may not even be eligible for it.

According to a poll conducted by BritainThinks for the TUC, 67% of insecure workers said they receive no sick pay at all, compared to 7% of those in secure work.

We agree with the TUC's assessment that many employers are encouraged treat insecure workers as "disposable labour" due to the lack of employment rights. Of the zero hours workers who have contacted us in the past 12 months or so, the vast majority have complained about simply seeing their work disappear without being furloughed. We have seen examples of good employers who have furloughed zero hours and casual workers. Yet, other employers have simply pointed to the lack of any contractual obligation to pay zero hours workers for not working.  After all, if an employer doesn't have to pay staff, why would they, especially when they are unable to open as usual.